Here are the results of my study of the content of 2 Kings 2:1-25.
1. Check to see if there are important textual issues.
The footnotes of the major English translations on Bible Gateway do not show significant textual issues.
If you wish to do further study, you can check the apparatus of the Hebrew text of 2 Kings, which lists the places where the ancient versions differ from the Hebrew text for 2 Kings 2:1-25.
You can also compare English translations with an English translation of the Septuagint (an ancient translation of the Old Testament into Greek). An English translation of the Septuagint of 2 Kings is available online.[1] Or it is available in most Bible software programs.
The Dead Sea Scrolls contain only fragments of 2 Kings and have nothing from 2 Kings 2.
Technical commentaries such as those by Gray, Hobbs and Cogan and Tadmor can help you evaluate the evidence of ancient versions of 2 Kings.
In verse 4, some copies of the Septuagint have: “And Elijah said to Elisha,” instead of what appears in the Hebrew: “And Elijah said to him, ‘Elisha…’” Gray follows the Septuagint[2]; Cogan and Tadmor do not.[3]
There are questions about the correct reading of the Hebrew in verse 14. On Bible Hub, The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges discusses this. The author favors the marginal reading of the Revised Version, which gives the literal translation of the Hebrew: “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah, even he?”[4] Gray favors this as well.[5] Cogan and Tadmor prefer a textual change suggested by the Septuagint. This results in the translation: “Where, indeed is YHWH, God of Elijah?”[6]
In verse 22, a Hebrew letter is omitted, but is included in the Qere (“it is read”) and in several manuscripts.
In verse 24, Gray prefers to follow the Septuagint in translating, “And he turned after them,” instead of, “And he turned behind them.”
None of the textual issues appear to affect the interpretation of 2 Kings 2:1-25 significantly.
2. Check to see if there are important translation issues because of ambiguous or unclear grammar or differences in punctuation.
In the previous section, we have already seen translation issues that are based on different textual readings. A survey of translations does not reveal significant translation issues related to grammar or punctuation.
One translation issue related to meaning concerns the translation of the word “selohit” in verse 20. According to Cogan and Tadmor, the translation should be “jar” or “flask” rather than bowl.[7]
3. Translate the text (if you are able to).
Here is my attempt to translate 2 Kings 2:1-25. (I have translated in a rather literal and wooden way.)
2:1 When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up to heaven by the high wind, Elijah and Elisha were walking from Gilgal.
2:2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “By the life of Yahweh and by your life, I will not abandon you.” So they went down to Bethel.
2:3 The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today Yahweh is taking your master from your head?” And he said, “Indeed, I know; be quiet!”
2:4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “By the life of Yahweh and by your life, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Jericho.
2:5 The sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today Yahweh is taking your master from your head?” And he said, “Indeed, I know; be quiet!”
2:6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “By the life of Yahweh and by your life, I will not abandon you.” So the two of them went on.
2:7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood on the other side at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
2:8 Then Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water, and it was divided, one part from the other. And the two of them crossed on dry ground.
2:9 When they crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”
2:10 And he said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, it will be thus for you, but if not, it will not be thus.”
2:11 As they went on walking and talking, suddenly a chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven by the high wind.
2:12 And Elisha was seeing it and crying, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen.” And he did not see him again. Then he took hold of his garments and ripped them in two pieces.
2:13 He picked up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and returned and stood on the edge of the Jordan.
2:14 He took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water and said, “Where indeed is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he struck the water, it was divided, one part from the other and Elisha crossed over.
2:15 And when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” Then they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
2:16 They said to him, “Behold, there are with your servants fifty men who are strong. Let them go and seek your master, lest the Spirit of Yahweh has lifted him up and thrown him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” But he said, “Don’t send them.”
2:17 However they urged him until he was ashamed, and he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men. and they looked for him for three days, but did not find him.
2:18 They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho. He said to them, “Didn’t I say to you, don’t go?”
2:19 The men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the site of the city is good, as my master can see, but the water is bad and the land is barren (causes miscarriage).”
2:20 He said, “Get me a new jar and put salt in it.” And they got it.
2:21 He went out to the spring of water and threw salt there and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have healed this water, and there will not again be death or unfruitfulness (miscarriage) from it.’”
2:22 And the water has been healed until this day, in accordance with the word of Elisha that he spoke.
2:23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up on the way, some young boys came out of the town and made fun of him. They said to him, “Go away, baldy! Go away, baldy!”
2:24 He turned back to them, saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
2:25 He went from there to Mount Carmel and from there he returned to Samaria.
4. Analyze the structure of the text.
[Initial test of Elisha prior to Elijah’s removal.]
2:1 When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up to heaven by the high wind, Elijah and Elisha were walking from Gilgal.
[Part 1 of the test.]
2:2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “By the life of Yahweh and by your life, I will not abandon you.” So they went down to Bethel.
[Part 2 of the test.]
2:3 The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today Yahweh is taking your master from your head?” And he said, “Indeed, I know; be quiet!”
2:4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “By the life of Yahweh and by your life, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Jericho.
[Part 3 of the test.]
2:5 The sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today Yahweh is taking your master from your head?” And he said, “Indeed, I know; be quiet!”
2:6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “By the life of Yahweh and by your life, I will not abandon you.” So the two of them went on.
[Elijah’s removal and the transfer of his spirit to Elisha.]
[The presence of the witnesses.]
2:7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood on the other side at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
[Elijah demonstrates God’s power.]
2:8 Then Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water, and it was divided, one part from the other. And the two of them crossed on dry ground.
[Elisha’s request for Elijah’s spirit.]
2:9 When they crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”
2:10 And he said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, it will be thus for you, but if not, it will not be thus.”
[Elijah’s removal and Elisha’s response]
2:11 As they went on walking and talking, suddenly a chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven by the high wind.
2:12 And Elisha was seeing it and crying, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen.” And he did not see him again. Then he took hold of his garments and ripped them in two pieces.
[Elisha demonstrates God’s power.]
2:13 He picked up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and returned and stood on the edge of the Jordan.
2:14 He took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water and said, “Where indeed is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he struck the water, it was divided, one part from the other and Elisha crossed over.
[The witnesses’ confirmation.]
2:15 And when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” Then they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
[A demonstration that the LORD has really taken Elijah to heaven.]
[Elisha’s rejection of a search party for Elijah.]
2:16 They said to him, “Behold, there are with your servants fifty men who are strong. Let them go and seek your master, lest the Spirit of Yahweh has lifted him up and thrown him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” But he said, “Don’t send them.”
[Elisha’s acceptance of a search party for Elijah and his vindication.]
2:17 However they urged him until he was ashamed, and he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men. and they looked for him for three days, but did not find him.
2:18 They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho. He said to them, “Didn’t I say to you, don’t go?”
[A demonstration that through Elisha the LORD will bring blessing to his people.]
[The problem defined.]
2:19 The men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the site of the city is good, as my master can see, but the water is bad and the land is barren (causes miscarriage).”
[Elisha’s response bringing blessing.]
2:20 He said, “Get me a new jar and put salt in it.” And they got it.
2:21 He went out to the spring of water and threw salt there and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have healed this water, and there will not again be death or unfruitfulness (miscarriage) from it.’”
[A testimony to the permanence of the blessing.]
2:22 And the water has been healed until this day, in accordance with the word of Elisha that he spoke.
[A demonstration that through Elisha the LORD can bring judgment on his people.]
[The boys’ provocation.]
2:23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up on the way, some young boys came out of the town and made fun of him. They said to him, “Go away, baldy! Go away, baldy!”
[Elisha’s response bringing judgment.]
2:24 He turned back to them, saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
[Conclusion.]
2:25 He went from there to Mount Carmel and from there he returned to Samaria.
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http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Kings%20IV/index.htm, accessed 12/7/19. ↑
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Gray, John. I and II Kings: A Commentary. Second, fully-revised edition. Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1970. The Old Testament Library. 472. ↑
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Cogan, Mordechai and Hayim Tadmor. II Kings: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. New York, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1988. The Anchor Bible. 30. ↑
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https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_kings/2-14.htm, accessed 12/7/19. ↑
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Gray. 473. ↑
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Cogan and Tadmor. 31. ↑
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Ibid. 36. ↑